A Dorset charity which offers financial assistance to people with cancer is benefitting from the big hearts – and fast legs – of staff from Poole’s new Rockwater development.
Josh Saunders and six other staff from Rockwater, have been volunteering for the Dorset Cancer Care Foundation (DCCF) while the regeneration of the Branksome Beach Restaurant takes place.
Josh, 26, explained: “We are all continuing to be paid, despite being unable to work all our shifts because of the renovation work, so we looked into local charities we might help and decided to volunteer for the DCCF.

“We have been helping out the charity manager Jaz and Administrator Penny with their admin and social media and whatever else they need.
“It’s a great charity which gives financial help to Dorset families who are struggling to pay their bills and make ends meet because of cancer.
“After my first visit to the charity I was really impressed and decided I wanted to do something extra to help them.
“I’m an MMA fighter and have recently started running, so I said I would run the 14.2 miles from Sandbanks to Hengistbury Head on May 12 and raise as much as I can for DCCF.

“The training is going well, with some good runs in my lunchbreaks and I am hoping to raise £500.
“People are being really supportive so far. I’m now hoping others will read this and sponsor me a few pounds knowing every penny they give will go to a local family who really needs it.”

Sophie Powell, assistant manager of Rockwater, said: “It’s been brilliant to find out more about DCCF and the great work it does and everyone has been really pleased to volunteer their time to the charity while the building work is underway.
“We are also really proud of Josh. I know he will get lots of support on the day and there is even talk of some of the staff joining him for the final 500m stretch.”

DCCF charity manager Jazmine White said: “We were thrilled when Rockwater said they’d like to volunteer their time.
“They are a wonderful bunch of people and have been so friendly and helpful, especially with our social media, research and mailings to our members.
“As we are a very small local charity it’s lovely to have that extra support and we can’t wait to support Josh in his run.”
Josh can be sponsored at: https://tinyurl.com/yp3ktc7j